Prince Harry turned down an invitation from the King to stay at a royal residence when he visited Britain earlier this month because he had ‘security concerns’, it has been claimed.
He is said to have rejected his father’s offer because it did not come with a taxpayer-funded personal security provision, which would leave him in a “visible location with public entrances and exits and without police protection.”
Instead, he opted to stay in a hotel – presumably with members of the public – as it meant he could ‘come and go unseen’, he claimed. The Telegraph.
The newspaper further claimed that the Duke of Sussex ‘remains devastated’ over the withdrawal of his automatic right to police protection, which the Home Office is still fighting through the British courts.
If he wants to apply for security, he must now give the Metropolitan Police 28 days’ notice before coming to Britain. Each request is assessed on an individual basis by Ravec, the committee that oversees the protection of royalties and public figures.
Prince Harry has reportedly turned down the chance to stay at a royal residence and possibly meet his father due to security concerns. Pictured: Charles and Harry at the opening of the Invictus Games in London in 2014
Upon his arrival in Britain earlier this month, Harry had suggested he would not meet Charles because his father was ‘too busy’. Pictured: King Charles visits the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 20
The Duke of Sussex is said to still be devastated by the withdrawal of his taxpayer-funded security. Pictured: Harry leaving the thanksgiving service to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 8
Although it has not been revealed where the King offered Harry a room, St James’ Palace is a strong possibility.
Princess Beatrice has a permanent apartment there, while Princess Anne has a suite of rooms – and a parking space – that she uses during her stay in London.
Other members of the royal family use it on an ad hoc basis.
Plus, it’s right next to Clarence House, where the King stays when he’s in London.
It would have given father and son a place where they could meet in relative privacy, guarded 24 hours a day by a ‘ring of steel’.
In fact, all royal residences – which Harry was also offered – have armed guards at entrances and exits, unlike any hotel in London, and have the most advanced security systems in the country to protect working members of the family .
Buckingham Palace has consistently refused to comment on anything related to Harry and his father.
But a spokesman for the prince chose to make a statement when he came to London in early May for a service to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
It strongly suggested that although Harry was keen to meet his father, the king was in fact ‘too busy’ to see him.
However, it has since become clear that although His Majesty indeed had a busy schedule of engagements that week, the King had made conciliatory overtures that would have allowed him to see his son.
In total, Harry spent three nights in the capital without seeing any relatives before meeting his wife Meghan at Heathrow airport and flying to Nigeria for a quasi-royal tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend a polo fundraising event in Lagos, Nigeria on May 12
Pictured: King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 20
In 2020, Harry filed for a judicial review over the decision to deprive himself and his family of government-funded police protection when they chose to give up their royal duties and leave the United Kingdom.
Instead, a ‘tailor-made’ arrangement was created, with each visit assessed on its merits.
The prince has since accused the Home Office of subjecting him to ‘unlawful and unfair treatment’, claiming he was singled out as ‘punishment’ and treated ‘less favourably’ than other family members.
He offered to pay for his own security but was firmly told that the Metropolitan Police could not be treated as a ‘service for hire’.
In February he finally lost his legal challenge, leaving himself with a bill estimated at £1 million.
However, he has vowed to fight on and says he does not feel safe bringing his wife and children to Britain under current arrangements.
According to the Telegraph, the prince has only been given police protection when he attended royal events, such as the late queen’s funeral, or when he was transported from Heathrow to meet the king in February following his cancer diagnosis.
The newspaper – which has been given many details of Harry’s security arrangements – claims the prince had only his own private bodyguards during his travels to and from his hotel in February.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, while a request for comment was referred to the Sussexes’ British spokesperson.